In line with the company’s strategy of expanding its footprint, Idea Cellular announced the commercial launch of its GSM-based mobile services in the states of Bihar and Jharkhand.

With this move, Idea becomes the fifth operator to offer its services in the two states along with Airtel, Aircel, BSNL and RCom.

The company plans to cover 1.5 crore of the population spanning 2500 villages and towns in the two states with near about 800 towers. Subsequently it will expand the coverage to about 6 crore people in 16,500 towns and villages by the end of the fiscal.

With this, Idea is now present in 15 of the country’s 22 circles.